Bozeman Ammunition Co. Raid Demonstrates Feds’ Dependence On Local Help

Bozeman Ammunition Co. Raid Demonstrates Feds’ Dependence On Local Help

A recent federal raid on a Montana ammunition company demonstrates the federal government’s dependence on state and local help to enforce its unconstitutional acts.

Citing lead exposure concerns, FBI and EPA agents raided an ammunition company in Bozeman, Montana, on March 27. Sadly, the local police were on hand to help with this blatant violation of firearms and property rights.

In fact, local and/or state law enforcement almost always assist the feds in raids like this. Whether it be the FBI, the ATF, the DEA or any of the other alphabet agencies, they can count on that local support. This has happened, in part, because the feds buy off local police forces with stimulus money. State and local law enforcement have a tremendous financial incentive to assist the feds. As a result, small town police agencies now have access to tanks and drones, and often look more like an occupying military force than keepers of the public safety.

It doesn’t have to work this way.

Under the anti-commandeering doctrine, states can prohibit law enforcement from cooperating with the feds. It has been affirmed by the Supreme Court on four separate occasions, and stands as a non-controversial legal concept. This means that there is no requirement for local police to act as they did in Bozeman.

Simply denying the federal government state and local assistance can put a major dent in its efforts to enforce unconstitutional acts. The feds simply don’t have the resources to do it all themselves. They rely on state and local governments to get things done. Why should we make it easier for them? Why should we just roll over when we can fight back through legitimate legal channels that were approved by the Founding Fathers?

State level nullification through noncompliance can effectively stop many of these types of raids. But it will require state legislatures stepping up and passing bills to prohibit state and local law enforcement from pitching in. They simply won’t stop on their own accord.

Resistance begins with you reaching out to local police forces with the truth, and taking a resolution or an ordinance to your local town hall or county commission. Education combined with political action can make all the difference. By showing up and extending the olive branch to police, they will see that we are not the bogeymen that the feds are making us out to be. That is the first step toward having them work for us, rather than against us.

This disgraceful occurrence that happened in Bozeman doesn’t have to happen in your community. By being active locally and promoting freedom through non-compliance and nullification, you can prevent these types of unconstitutional disasters from happening. The power is in your hands, as long as you are willing to get out there and become a leader for freedom. Are you up to the challenge?

“But it will require state legislatures stepping up and passing bills to prohibit state and local law enforcement from pitching in. They simply won’t stop on their own accord.”

True that. I would love to see this type of legislation happen. The question is, will this put more pressure on state and local law enforcement budgets, or is most of everything they receive from the feds superfluous (like MRAPs)? I hope the numbers tend more towards the latter, as I imagine most legislators will more easily stand up to the feds when they lose less.

Over the last 2 years, we’ve gotten really heavy resistance from law enforcement organizations on anything which limits what they do. Whether it’s searches without a warrant, or banning participation with federal gun control or nsa spying – they’re wildly opposed.